Ethical dilemma...communities thoughts...

[shizznitch]

Hi all

I was wondering what the communities thoughts would be on the following 'ethical' dilemma

You are the ward pharmacist for the Children?s Ward.

As you walk through the ward, one of the patients, a 10-year old boy, calls out to you. He is alone at the time.

He tells you that he is about to start a new chemo regime which his parents have told him will make him better, and asks you for some information about it.

On checking his drug chart and notes you realise that this is in fact a palliative chemotherapy regime, which although it is likely to prolong his life by a few months is also likely to make him feel very poorly.

What will you do?

my take on this is the following:

a) legally, not allowed to tell him squat really, because he's a minor, have to go via the parents, perhaps have a sit down with the parents if possible and explain to them

but ethically...

b) would you let even a young child have that false hope? under the assumption that they'll be 'happier' during their final days/weeks?

discuss...

[aftermath]

I think you have to comfort the wee boy, and let him know there is still hope, i know its hard to think of the situation, but have to try in case of a cure, very rare some peeps can respond and add a couple of years to their life.

[shizznitch]

I think you have to comfort the wee boy, and let him know there is still hope, i know its hard to think of the situation, but have to try in case of a cure, very rare some peeps can respond and add a couple of years to their life.

but coming from a legal point of view, is that basically not lying to the boy?


surely you would have to consult the parents?

(this is a hypothetical question that was posed in my ethics class, i'm just curious as to what the masses would do!)

[aftermath]

the parents will be given the option. and will be advised of what to expect.

[Meat-Head]

You could possability say something like

If by law you can't say anything, surly you could say something like:

"We a had a snotty brat like you in here a few weeks ago, with the same fault, and he/she/it was happy with the work carried out, are still being repaired" (or simular words)

OR possability

"We had a snotty brat like you in here a few weeks ago, but the machine
used to rapair the same fault was broken, but he/she/it is looking forward to being repaired, so will have you let you know" (or simular words)

That way, not lyeing to the brat, or dropping yourself in the shit

[Bulld0g]

Hi all

I was wondering what the communities thoughts would be on the following 'ethical' dilemma

You are the ward pharmacist for the Children?s Ward.

As you walk through the ward, one of the patients, a 10-year old boy, calls out to you. He is alone at the time.

He tells you that he is about to start a new chemo regime which his parents have told him will make him better, and asks you for some information about it.

On checking his drug chart and notes you realise that this is in fact a palliative chemotherapy regime, which although it is likely to prolong his life by a few months is also likely to make him feel very poorly.

What will you do?

my take on this is the following:

a) legally, not allowed to tell him squat really, because he's a minor, have to go via the parents, perhaps have a sit down with the parents if possible and explain to them

but ethically...

b) would you let even a young child have that false hope? under the assumption that they'll be 'happier' during their final days/weeks?

discuss...

I would tell him i'm not allowed to discuss his treatment with him because he is a child. I would speak to his parents and make sure they were clear about what the treatment entailed, and that they hadn't got the wrong end of the stick. What they tell their child is their business.

[barrowmanandrew]

difficult, help the lad any way you can

[chroma]

Id personaly tell him that the medicine was AWESOME!
Best thing since sliced bread, then pull all kinds of random positive figures out of my ass; "yeah kid, this is that new stuff i just happened to be reading about in that medical journal whilst eating lunch, its got a miraculous success rate."

The point being that there have been legitimite studies conducted demonstrating the links between a positive hope filled outlook and a negitive hopeless outlook on relation to patient wellbeing and recovery (even outside of post op procedures) [see Supportive Care in Cancer Volume 16 (number 5) published by Heidelberg]

Hope is never a bad thing, and it definately doesnt do any harm, so your well within the hippocratic oath.

should there be any legal argument id pose that as my defence and follow up with the fact that im not specialised in either Oncology or a Pediatriconcology and therefore was merely providing him with the best care i could given his dire prognosis.

[patkins]

You can tell him as much as you feel you can tell him bearing in mind ,not only his young age, but the innocence that you will surely pick up on. So, only the minimum of info without the side effects. The kid has enough to deal with even though he may not,and probably does not, fully understand his own situation. His own parents are the best ones to explain as they are familiar with their child,the conditions of the illness that the child has endured to date, and also the level of understanding that their child has reached.

[manxspud]

you reassure him that everything will be ok... simple as... he is in the best place to get the best treatment ect ect. morels do not come into it, its just not your place to tell him otherwise.

Just finished nvq level 3 in health and social care... tons of like scenarios, but always the same result... you reassure and say no more. you can listen to what he has to say and reassure some more. you give him hope for a future, regardless of how you feel his chances are.